splash mountain

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Happy birthday wishes go out to Splash Mountain as today marks this guest favorite's twentieth year in the Magic Kingdom. It was on this date - July 17 - in 1992 that the 86-foot-tall Splash Mountain made its debut in Walt Disney World.

This equal opportunity soaker of a ride draws its inspiration from the 1946 Disney film "Song of the South." Over 70 Audio-Animatronics (which happens to be one of the largest animated casts ever crafted for a Disney attraction) are used to tell the story of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear.

Walt Disney World has designated a new space for meeting characters within the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland. Guests can now catch up with their favorite personalities from the Hundred Acre Wood next to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Pooh and his friends used to greet guests near the Splash Mountain exit, but now make their greeting home near Pooh's attraction. In addition, Woody and Jessie of "Toy Story" fame will now be meeting up with guests at the Splash Mountain exit location (they were previously at the upper Splash Mountain gate).

Splash Mountain opened a few days ago after a month-long refurbishment, and the popular water ride received new lap bars as part of its update. The reason for the addition of the bars? To prevent guests from standing up during the ride or exiting the log boats earlier than instructed.

The Magic Kingdom celebrated its 45th anniversary on October 1 so it seems like a good time to expand on our top 10 list of things to love about the Magic Kingdom and take it all the way to 45! When you sit down and really think about it, there are more than 45 things you might love about the Magic Kingdom, but somehow we narrowed it down..

The nighttime hours at the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks are a completely different experience than the daytime hours. At Epcot the sidewalks twinkle in Future World and the World Showcase pavilions light up, and I still get lost in the dark at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I haven't yet experienced the Animal Kingdom after dark but it's on my "to do" list. And my favorite park after dark? The Magic Kingdom.

Despite earning a seemingly permanent home in the famed "Disney Vault" due to its reliance on racial stereotypes to tell a story, Song of the South has an enduring legacy in Walt Disney World, even if many guests don't recognize the origin of some of Disney's most iconic elements. The Reconstruction Era film centers on Uncle Remus, a black man who is presumably a recently freed slave, telling stories to the children.

After Fantasyland, it would be difficult to pin down Walt Disney's favorite land in Magic Kingdom, but Frontierland was certainly near and dear to his heart. This is evident in the number of films and television shows produced by the Walt Disney Company that support the theme and inspire the attractions that we still love today. Let's explore some of the films that set the scene and inspired some of the classic attractions that we still enjoy today.

While I'm not exactly a thrill-seeker when I'm on vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort, there are a few attractions that are always on my must-do list. And yes, some of these attractions are "thrill rides." After all, as much as I love it's a small world, I would lose my mind if that is the only attraction I could ride for an entire week.

Frontierland is rooted in history and as such, rarely sees the sort of reimagining that happens elsewhere at Walt Disney World; however, even on the frontier, a little bit of "sprucing up" is in order now and then. A few fan favorites would fall victim to budgetary constraints along the way, but an uncharted expanse of frontier territory would eventually give rise to two of the Magic Kingdom's most beloved attractions.

It isn't easy to list the top 10 Walt Disney World Attractions. The four theme parks have so many incredible dark rides, thrill rides, and classic rides that making any kind of top 10 list is a bit of a challenge.

But we aren't afraid of a challenge. Unless that challenge includes riding Expedition Everest, then we're afraid. And so, without further ado here is a list of what we consider to be the top 10 attractions at Walt Disney World.

Splash Mountain made its Walt Disney World debut in 1992 at the Magic Kingdom, after originally opening in 1989 at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. The classic flume ride was made into a Disney fan favorite under the guidance of Disney Legend Imagineer Tony Baxter.

Sometimes, in the midst of the hustle and bustle at Walt Disney World you just want to sit down, relax and take a boat ride, right? And that's why we're compiling a list of the top 10 boat rides at Walt Disney World. Put on your life vest and keep your hands and arms inside the boat at all times. Here we go!